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nto the heath。 Clym had by this time lit a small fire； and despatched Susan Nunsuch for a frying pan。 Before she had returned Sam came in with three adders； one briskly coiling and uncoiling in the cleft of the stick； and the other two hanging dead across it。
“I have only been able to get one alive and fresh as he ought to be；” said Sam。 “These limp ones are two I killed today at work； but as they don’t die till the sun goes down they can’t be very stale meat。”
The live adder regarded the assembled group with a sinister look in its small black eye； and the beautiful brown and jet pattern on its back seemed to intensify with indignation。 Mrs。 Yeobright saw the creature； and the creature saw her—she quivered throughout； and averted her eyes。
“Look at that；” murmured Christian Cantle。 “Neighbours； how do we know but that something of the old serpent in God’s garden； that gied the apple to the young woman with no clothes； lives on in adders and snakes still？ Look at his eye—for all the world like a villainous sort of black currant。 ‘Tis to be hoped he can’t ill…wish us！ There’s folks in heath who’ve been overlooked already。
I will never kill another adder as long as I live。”
“Well； ‘tis right to be afeard of things； if folks can’t help it；” said Grandfer Cantle。 “’Twould have saved me many a brave danger in my time。”
“I fancy I heard something outside the shed；” said Christian。 “I wish troubles would e in the daytime； for then a man could show his courage； and hardly beg for mercy of the most broomstick old woman he should see； if he was a brave man； and able to run out of her sight！”
“Even such an ignorant fellow as I should know better than do that；” said Sam。
“Well； there’s calamities where we least expect it； whether or no。 Neighbours； if Mrs。 Yeobright were to die； d’ye think we should be took up and tried for the manslaughter of a woman？”
“No； they couldn’t bring it in as that；” said Sam； “unless they could prove we had been poachers at some time of our lives。 But she’ll fetch round。”
“Now； if I had been stung by ten adders I should hardly have lost a day’s work for’t；” said Grandfer Cantle。 “Such is my spirit when I am on my mettle。 But perhaps ‘tis natural in a man trained for war。 Yes； I’ve gone through a good deal； but nothing ever came amiss to me after I joined the Locals in four。” He shook his head and smiled at a mental picture of himself in uniform。 “I was always first in the most galliantest scrapes in my younger days！”
“I suppose that was because they always used to put the biggest fool afore；” said Fairway from the fire； beside which he knelt； blowing it with his breath。
“D’ye think so； Timothy？” said Grandfer Cantle； ing forward to Fairway’s side with sudden depression in his face。 “Then a man may feel for years that he is good solid pany； and be wrong about himself after all？”
“Never mind that question； Grandfer。 Stir your stumps and get some more sticks。 ‘Tis very nonsense of an old man to prattle so when life and death’s in mangling。”
“Yes； yes；” said Grandfer Cantle； with melancholy conviction。 “Well； this is a bad night altogether for them that have done well in their time； and if I were ever such a dab at the hautboy or tenor viol； I shouldn’t have the heart to play tunes upon ‘em now。”
Susan now arrived with the frying pan； when the live adder was killed and the heads of the three taken off。 The remainders； being cut into lengths and split open； were tossed into the pan； which began hissing and crackling over the fire。 Soon a rill of clear oil trickled from the carcases； whereupon Clym dipped the corner of his handkerchief into the liquid and anointed the wound。
8 … Eustacia Hears of Good Fortune； and Beholds Evil
In the meantime Eustacia； left alone in her cottage at Alderworth； had bee considerably depressed by the posture of affairs。 The consequences which might result from Clym’s discovery that his mother had been turned from his door that day were likely to be disagreeable； and this was a quality in events which she hated as much as the dreadful。
To be left to pass the evening by herself was irksome to her at any time； and this evening it was more irksome than usual by reason of the excitements of the past hours。 The two visits had stirred her into restlessness。 She was not wrought to any great pitch of uneasiness by the probability of appearing in an ill light in the discussion between Clym and his mother； but she was wrought to vexation； and her slumbering activities were quickened to the extent of wishing that she had opened the door。 She had certainly believed that Clym was awake； and the excuse would be an honest one as far as it went； but nothing could save her from censure in refusing to answer at the first knock。 Yet； instead of blaming herself for the issue she laid the fault upon the shoulders of some indistinct； colossal Prince of the World； who had framed her situation and ruled her lot。
At this time of the year it was pleasanter to walk by night than by day； and when Clym had been absent about an hour she suddenly resolved to go out in the direction of Blooms…End； on the chance of meeting him on his return。 When she reached the garden gate she heard wheels approaching； and looking round beheld her grandfather ing up in his car。
“I can’t stay a minute； thank ye；” he answered to her greeting。 “I am driving to East Egdon； but I came round here just to tell you the news。 Perhaps you have heard—about Mr。 Wildeve’s fortune？”
“No；” said Eustacia blankly。
“Well； he has e into a fortune of eleven thousand pounds—uncle died in Canada； just after hearing that all his family； whom he was sending home； had gone to the bottom in the Cassiopeia； so Wildeve has e into everything； without in the least expecting it。”
Eustacia stood motionless awhile。 “How long has he known of this？” she asked。
“Well； it was known to him this morning early； for I knew it at ten o’clock； when Charley came back。 Now； he is what I call a lucky man。 What a fool you were； Eustacia！”
“In what way？” she said； lifting her eyes in apparent calmness。
“Why； in not stick